Expats moving to traditional destinations in southern France and Spain have long been struggling with the economic downturn affecting the Eurozone for the past 4 years. However, their compatriots living over the border in Germany have been thriving.

“More than nine in ten (91%) expats in Germany believe that the economic situation in their country is either getting better or staying about the same, with a similar number reporting that they are satisfied with the current state of the economy (86%). In addition, the majority of expats in Germany (61%) think that things are generally heading in the right direction (compared to a global average of 37%) and associate the country with strong political stability (67%).”

“France and Spain remain popular with expat retirees (41% and 32% of expats in France and Spain respectively are retirees compared to only 7% in Germany) and expat experiencers. In contrast, more than half (55%) of those who moved to Germany expected to benefit from a better job, compared to just a third of those living in France (33%) and Spain (29%). In addition, half (49%) of expats in Germany moved there expecting financial gain, compared to just 22% and 18% of expats in France and Spain respectively.”